Nikki McCarthy from Columbus spoke to us about her late daughter Sam and the legacy she inspired. Sam was diagnosed with a rare incurable genetic illness at the age of 7 and died at the age of 9 after a heroic battle with the disease.

One thing that brightened Sam’s life at the hospital was music therapy, and Nikki’s family has created a foundation called Sam’s Fans to make music and art therapy available in other children’s hospitals in Ohio through fundraising events.

The Today show broadcast a segment on this story in August of 2017, in which performer Matt Carney, who wrote a song important to Sam and Nikki, appeared. Also in photo, Rotarian Jean Raga.